Dates for Williamsburg mobile disaster recovery center changed

If you had planned to go to the Whitley County Health Department in Williamsburg on Thursday, Friday or Saturday of this week in order to talk in-person with a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about damage you suffered during the July 31 flash flooding or other flooding events across eastern Kentucky, then don’t as the dates for the center have officially been changed.

FEMA announced Wednesday afternoon that the mobile disaster recovery center will now be set up on Sunday, Aug. 28, Monday, Aug. 29, and Tuesday, Aug 30, at the health department, which is located at 368 Penny Lane in Williamsburg off Exit 11. The center will be open from 1 – 7 p.m. on Sunday, and from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.

A mobile disaster recovery center was also held at that location Aug. 21-23.

FEMA representatives will be at the centers to help with applications for federal assistance and provide information about other disaster recovery resources.

FEMA financial assistance may include money for temporary housing, basic home repairs or other uninsured, disaster-related needs, such as childcare, transportation and medical, funeral or dental expenses.

It is not necessary to go to a mobile center to apply for FEMA assistance. Homeowners and renters in Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and ​Whitley​ counties can go online to disasterassistance.gov, call 800-621-3362 or use the FEMA mobile app. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.

When applying for assistance, it’s important to have some critical information in hand:

• A current phone number where you can be contacted;
• Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying;
• Your Social Security number;
• A general list of damage and losses;
• Banking information if you choose direct deposit; and
• If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name.

For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to FEMA Accessible: How to Register with Disaster Survivor Assistance – YouTube.

Flood survivors who apply for FEMA assistance may be referred to the SBA. It is important to submit an SBA application so you can be considered for additional FEMA grants.